Update 11/10/25: The application is now closed. Applications are being reviewed by committees and applicants will hear back in early December.
Local community members have the power to support community-led change! By engaging volunteers in Community Partnership Funds (the Black Legacy, Our LGBTQ, Somos Comunidad and Youth funds), Grand Rapids Community Foundation is building communities of philanthropists with shared identities or interests.
Hannah Fernando, community giving manager, leads the work of these funds by providing project management and support to volunteer partners. She shared more about the work of these funds with us.
What role do volunteer community members have in Black Legacy, Our LGBTQ and Somos Comunidad funds?
Each fund has a specific focus and is shaped by a committee of volunteers that reflect the identities they seek to serve. We call these Community Partnership Funds, and that title really describes how we work together to impact local communities. Volunteers engage in three key activities: grantmaking, fundraising and community engagement. These are each supported by Community Foundation staff, who collaborate to make the committee’s ideas come to life.
What experiences or perspectives do committee members bring to this work?
The main requirement is that someone has a heart for impacting community! We've seen successful committee members come from personal, community and professional networks. There is no minimum amount of experience to be considered, but volunteers do need to be 18 years old and have connections to West Michigan. The diversity of perspectives on each committee creates the opportunity for new relationships and partnerships and allows each person to contribute to discussions and decision making.
Volunteering on one of these funds is a commitment, and I appreciate each person who gives their energy to our meetings, events and activities. We build relationships and learn from each other over the course of our work, since each volunteer term is three years.
What are some of the regular activities of each community partnership fund?
Committee members partner with Community Foundation staff in all the activities they do for fundraising, grantmaking and community engagement by offering creative ideas, thought partnership and consultation. Each fund has autonomy, but they aren’t without support. For example, committee members might determine what kind of fundraising event they want to host—the date, theme and strategy. Our staff incorporate their feedback, organize the details and rely on volunteers to help socialize the invitation with their networks in Kent County.
What is a recent moment of joy you would highlight from your work with these community partnership funds?
It is so meaningful to learn about all the amazing work happening in our community. During recent grantmaking meetings, we strategized about how we can make the most positive impact. It was empowering to see the volunteer committee members, who are closest to the work and the impact, allocate resources to local organizations. The Black Legacy, Our LGBTQ and Somos Comunidad funds each held their own grant rounds, leading to more than $500,000 of investment in local nonprofit organizations.
Are volunteer partners eligible for grant awards?
Individuals who join these committees have a passion for uplifting organizations across the community, not only a group they already know or support. If someone works at or serves on an organization being considered for a grant or sponsorship, they will need to step out during conversations and decisions about that organization.
Hannah Fernando is community giving manager at Grand Rapids Community Foundation. She leads the work of Community Partnership Funds by serving as a liaison between departments, team members and the advisory committees of the Black Legacy Fund, Our LGBTQ Fund, Somos Comunidad Fund and Youth Fund. To contact Hannah, click here.